Steam iron base



M y 1964 G. R. MORTON STEAM IRON BASE Filed March 20, 1962 United StatesF m 3,134,182' STEAM IRON 'BASE Glenn R. Morton, 7025 Sarpy Ave., Omaha,Nebr. Filed Mar. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 181,057 4 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) Thisinvention relates to irons for heat pressing fabrics and the like. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to novel steam iron basestructures.

' In the manufacture of steam irons it is a common practice to make ametal casting of the base element of the iron which includes the heatingelements. The heating elements normally comprise resistance wiresadapted to have a current passed therethrough for generating heat. Ithas been found convenient in many instances to enclose the wire in atubular metal element of high heat conductivity which can be bent into adesired shape and incorporated in the base casting. A portion of thecasting directly adjacent theheating element is left open, in the natureof an indentation or open chamber in the casting. After the casting hasbeen made this indentation or chamber is closed by conventional means,such as welding or soldering a separate strip of metal to the open sideof the chamber so that a substantially vapor-tight hollow cavity isformed in the casting adjacent all or part of the heating element. Thiscavity then serves as the chamber in which the water is boiled intosteam. A hole is drilled into'one side of the chamber to allow theentrance of water from a reservoir in the body of the iron. A secondhole is drilled into the other side of the chamber to provide an exitfor the steam into a desired portion of the iron to be applied to thefabric or the like which is being pressed.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a steamiron base having an improved chamber in which the water is converted tosteam.

It is a further object to provide a steam iron base having a hollow,tubular boiler chamber adjacent to the heating element, both of whichare incorporated in the iron base casting.

Yet another object is to provide a novel steam iron base structure whichis durable in use and economical in manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus having the structure,arnangernent of parts and combination of elements as set forth in thefollowing detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of whichwill be indicated in the claims. For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the present invention reference should be had tothe following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. '1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the heatingelement and boiler or steam chamber of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional end perspective view taken on theline 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an iron base casting including the elementsshown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 I have shown the heatingelement, represented generally by the numeral 10, as a substantiallyU-shaped member comprising an inner resistance wire 12, adapted togenerate heat in response to the passage of an electric currenttherethrough, encased in an electrically insulating material 14, whichprovides minimal interference with the transfer of heat from wire 12 tothe tubular casing 1 6, which also has high heat conducting properties.A hollow tubular member 18 is provided adjacent heating element 10, andin M ice FIG. 1 is shown as being of substantially the same shape andattached directly thereto as by soldering, welding, or the like. It isalso desirable that member 18 be constructedof a material having goodheat conducting properties. Both casing 16 and member 18 may beconveniently fabricated from lengths of metal tubing, such as copper,for example. The ends of member 18 may be closed, as by solder or welds,shown at 20 and 22, and attached to heating element 10' at the same timeby the same solder or weld. The unitary structure shown in FIG. 1,comprising the heating element having a hollow, sealed chamberassociated therewith, is thus formed.

In FIG. 4 is shown a casting, designated generally by the numeral 24,into which is incorporated the structure shown in FIG. 1. Casting 24 isdesigned to form the base portion of a steam iron. A raised portion 26on casting 24 encloses member 18. So that water may enter the chamber inthe interior of member 18 from a conventional reservoir in the body ofthe iron (not shown) a hole 28 is drilled through raised portion 26 andmember 18. -A similar hole 30 is provided in the opposite end of raisedportion 26 andvmember 18 so that after the water has been heated byelement 10' the steam may escape. When the iron is fully assembled thewater reservoir is in communication with the interior of member 18through hole 28, and hole 30 communicates with a chamber 32 formed incasting 24. It is a conventional practice to provide holes, such asthose shown at 34, through the base of the iron so that the steam may beapplied to the fabric, or the like, being ironed.

Thus, it may be seen that when the structure shown in FIG. 1 isincorporated in the casting of the base portion of an iron, it isnecessary only to drill holes through the casting and the tubular memberforming the boiler or steam chamber and place these holes incommunication with the water reservoir and steam outlet by conventionalmeans. Wire 12, in which the heat for providing the steam is generated,extends from the casting, and is adapted to be connected with a sourceof electrical en ergy, again by conventional means.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my steamiron base without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinvention, and it is my invention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A steam iron base comprising, in combination:

(a) an iron base casting;

(b) a substantially U-shaped, tubular, electric heating elementincorporated in and enclosed by said casting and adapted to be connectedwith a source of electrical energy;

(0) a hollow, tubular, substantially vapor-tight element attached to theupper portion of said heating element, said vapor tight tubular elementbeing incorporated in and enclosed by said casting;

(d) a first passageway extending through a first portion of said castingto the interior of said vapor tight tubular element; and

(e) a second passageway extending through a second portion of saidcasting to the interior of said vapor tight tubular element, said secondpassageway being substantially spaced from said first passageway, aplurality of holes in the bottom of said iron base casting between thesides of said U-shaped heating element, said second passageway being incommunication with said plurality of holes.

2. A steam iron base comprising, in combination:

(a) an iron base casting having a raised portion;

(b) an elongated electric heating element incorporated in and enclosedby said casting;

(0), a hollow, tubular, substantially vapor-tight element incorporatedin and enclosed by the raised portion on said casting, and secured tothe upper portion of said heating element; I

I (d) a first passageway extending through said raised portion and saidtubular element adjacent one end thereof; and

(e) a second passageway extending through said raised portion and saidtubular element adjacent the other end thereof.

3. A steam iron base comprising, in combination:

(a) an iron base casting having a raised portion;

(b) a substantially U-shaped electric heating element incorporated inand enclosed by said casting;

(c) a hollow, tubular, substantially vapor-tight element incorporated inand enclosed in the raised portion on said casting, and secured to theupper portion of said heating element said vapor-tight element beingsubstantially U-shaped;

(d) a first passageway extending through said raised portion and saidtubular element adjacent one end thereof;

(2) a second passageway extending through said raised portion and saidtubular element adjacent the other end thereof;

(f) said first passageway being in communication with a supply of wateradapted to be introduced into said tubular element through said firstpassageway; and

(g) said second passageway being in communication with means forapplying steam created by the heating of said water by said heatingelement to a workpiece through said iron base.

4. A steam iron base comprising, in combination,

an iron base casting,

ISO

Cit

a substantially U-shaped, tubular, electric heating element incorporatedin and enclosed by said casting and adapted to be connected with asource of electrical energy,

a hollow, tubular, substantially vapor-tight element attached to theupper portion of said heating element, said vapor tight tubular elementbeing incorporated in and enclosed by said casting,

said vapor-tight element being substantially U-shaped,

a first passageway extending through a first portion of said casting tothe interior of said vapor-tight element,

a second passageway extending through a second portion of said castingto the interior of said vapor-tight element, said second passagewaybeing substantially spaced from said first passageway,

a plurality of holes in the bottom of said iron base casts ing betweenthe sides of said U-shaped heating element,

said second passageway being in communication with said plurality ofholes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,122,604 Bridges July 5, 1938 2,353,604 Waring et al. July 11, 19442,683,320 Morton July 13, 1954 2,713,221 Smellis July 19, 1955.2,880,530 Schwaneke Apr. 7, 1959 2,880,531 Houck Apr. 7, 1959 2,933,804Math Apr. 26, 1960

1. A STEAM IRON BASE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) AN IRON BASECASTING; (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED, TUBULAR, ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENTINCORPORATED IN AND ENCLOSED BY SAID CASTING AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTEDWITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY; (C) A HOLLOW, TUBULAR, SUBSTANTIALLYVAPOR-TIGHT ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID HEATINGELEMENT, SAID VAPOR TIGHT TUBULAR ELEMENT BEING INCORPORATED IN ANDENCLOSED BY SAID CASTING;